Vote on meeting date could delay board expansion

SOMERSET — Expecting a crowd that may be too large to be accommodated in the auditorium at Somerset Berkley Regional High School, the selectmen decided last Wednesday to schedule a special town meeting for March 24 at the Venus de Milo in Swansea.

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By GEORGE AUSTIN

southcoasttoday.com

By GEORGE AUSTIN

Posted Feb. 12, 2014 at 2:00 PM

By GEORGE AUSTIN

Posted Feb. 12, 2014 at 2:00 PM

» Social News

SOMERSET — Expecting a crowd that may be too large to be accommodated in the auditorium at Somerset Berkley Regional High School, the selectmen decided last Wednesday to schedule a special town meeting for March 24 at the Venus de Milo in Swansea.

The selectmen had previously discussed having the special town meeting on March 10, but the Venus de Milo was not available to have a town meeting on that date. The meeting on March 24 is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

One of the articles on the special town meeting warrant is a citizens' petition article that will ask voters to expand the Board of Selectmen from three members to five members.

If the town meeting was held on March 10, as was discussed the week before, it would have been at least two months before the May 12 election, which would have meant the two selectmen's positions could have been added to the board after this year's election, if the article is approved.

If the article is approved on March 24, the two new positions would not be added to the board until next year because it is less than two months before the election.

The only way the positions would be added to the board this year if they are approved at the special town meeting is if the selectmen called a special election, which they decided not to do last year after there was a tie for a School Committee seat in the election.

Christopher Murphy, who submitted the petition asking that town meeting voters increase the Board of Selectmen from three members to five members, said he thinks the selectmen changed the date of the town meeting so that members could not be added to the board this year, if it passed. He said it is not right for two out of three members of the board to be making the decisions for the town.

"It's all about power and control, nothing more, nothing less," Mr. Murphy said.

Selectmen Chairman Donald Setters, Jr. said it never occurred to him that changing the date of the special town meeting would affect the two positions being added to his board this year, if the article is approved at town meeting. He said he has a lot of business on his plate right now. He said the Venus de Milo was not available to have a town meeting on March 10.

Mr. Setters said the selectmen set the date and time for the town meetings, but the moderator and town clerk secure the place for them. He said at the time when the town meeting was set for March 10, he did not know if the Venus de Milo or high school was available. He said when the two positions would be added to the board, if the article is approved, had no impact on his decision for the date of the town meeting.

Selectman Scott LeBeau said he was not familiar with the deadline for getting two additional seats for the Board of Selectmen on the ballot. He said the motivation for the article could be to help people garner enough votes to get a seat on the board.

Selectman Patrick O'Neil was not in attendance when the meeting date was voted on last week.

Resident James Velozo said that if the selectmen anticipate having a large turnout at the special town meeting, they should have it at the Venus de Milo, rather than Somerset Berkley Regional High School. Mr. Setters said there is a need to have the special town meeting, but it is not as urgent as originally thought because he thought the town was going to need to take money out of the stabilization fund.

Mr. Luttrell said the high school possibly could work for the special town meeting, but if as much outreach is done to people about going to the meeting as last time, the selectmen may want to have the meeting at Venus de Milo.

Mr. Setters said having the meeting on March 24 will give the Advisory and Finance Committee and town moderator more time to review articles.

Town Clerk Dolores Berge said the high school also was concerned about having the town meeting there on March 10 because its annual dodge ball tournament, which is very popular with the students, is being held that day and there could be issues with parking.